Electro-magnetic separator



(No Model.)

R. R. MOPFATT. BLBGTRU MAGNETIC SBPARATOR.

yPatented Oct. 1, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EricE.

RICHARD R. HOFFATT, OF NEViT YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMIC-SNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE IWIOFFATT ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION COM- PANY,OF NEIV YORK.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,899, dated October1, 1889.

Application iled August 9, 1888. Serial No. 282,367. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.- also t0 prevent the formation of internalor Be it known that I, RICHARD R. M OEFATT, Foucault currents. Thismagnet I energize o a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the bymeans of an alternating current, which city, county, and State of NewYork, have inwill produce rapid changes or reversals of 5 vented certainnew and useful Improvements polarity. This magnet I locate in ahorizonin Electro-Magnetic Separators, of which the tal and stationaryposition within a drum or following is a specification, reference beingcylinder arranged to rotate, and which is had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to made of soft iron, or having a layer of softthe lettersof reference marked thereon. iron wire Wound upon its periphery. Abovero This invention relates to apparatus for the this cylinder or drum isplaced a hopper or separation ot metallic particles from nonothersuitable means to convey the pulvermetallic substances by means ofelectro-magized material to be operated upon for sepanetic action, andit is especially intended for ration. The material passing from thehopuse in the concentrating and treating of ores, per in a regulatedmanner falls upon the i5 so as to eftectually and economically separaterotating cylinder and is conveyed through the magnetic from thenon-magnetic particles the eld (or alternating lines of force) oi' theand at the same time the metallic from the electro-magnet, the citect ofwhich upon the non-metallic substances. metal particles of thepulverized substance Heretofore numerous devices have been is theattraction of the magnetic and there- 2o constructed for the purpose ofseparating pulsion of the non-magnetic. The former, ad-

magnetic'from non-magneticsubstances, their hering to the periphery ofthe cylinder, is operation being based solely upon the attractconveyedto its lowest point, which is in a 7o ive properties of magnets that actonly upon neutral position, whereit is removed by means the magneticmetal particles, leaving the nonot' arotating brush. The nonmagneticmetal 25 magnetic metal particles unseparated from particles arerepelled withforcewhichwillsepthe non-metallic substances. arate themfrom the non-metallic substance,

I have discovered that when an electrothe latter in no wise beingaffected in passing magnet is energized by an alternating or an throughthe magnetic eld, (or lines of forca) intermittent current ofelectricity, causing a and fallin a perpendicular line into a recepta-30 rapid reversal or change of polarity in the cle. Suitable provisionis made tor receiving magnet, the effect upon metallic substances themetallic particles as they are attracted or brought within the influenceof its field (or repelled. magnetic lines of force) is to' attract theIn the accompanying drawings, Figure l magnetic and to repel thenon-magnetic, krepresents a sectional elevation of a device 35 Whilenon-metallic particles are in no Wise embodying my invention. Fig. i. isa crossaectcd. It is the utilization of this novel section of the same,taken on the line a: a', discovery to the purpose of separating me-Fig. 1. Fig illustrates a method of using tallic from non-metallicsubstances and maga number of the same in series. netic fromnon-magnetic substances that con- Similar letters of reference in theseveral 41u stitutes my invention, and its embodiment in figuresindicate like or corresponding parts.

many devices or in modified forms may be The annexed drawings represent,partly in effectually employed to suit various requireelevation, partlyin sectiomasimple apparatus 9G ments. for carrying my invention intoeiect.

In the construction of my invention I prct'- A is an electro-magnetmounted horizon- 45 erably employ an electro-magnet the core of tallyand located in a stationary position which is of soft-iron Wire orlaminated sheets within a rotating drum or hollow cylinder insulatedeach from the others to facilitate B, the periphery of Whichis of softiron. A the magnetization and demagnetization, and suitable hopper C isplaced above the cylinder B in a position that will insure thepulverized material passing therefrom to fall upon the upper surface ofa cylinder.

D is a cylindrical brush arranged to rotate.

e e e2 are receptacles for receiving the separated material.

G is an elect-ric source, such as an alternating-current dynamo.

h 7L are the circuit wires or conductors, which include the magnet A.

In the operation of my invention, the circuit being closed, the magnetis energized by the alternating current, which causes a rapid reversalof magnetic polarity. The lines of force extending or passing into orthrough the soft-iron drum that surrounds the magnet makes a ring-magnetof the drum, the poles of which are opposite the poles of the magnet A,but of an opposite nature, as will be understood. The neutral line ofthe magnet is midway between the poles, and at this point at the lowerpart of the cylinderor drum is located the rotating brush. Thepulverized ore or other material to be treated is placed in the hopper,and the drum B and brushes D are made to rotate, when the pulverizedmaterial falls upon the drum and is conveyed to a horizontal positionfarthest from the center of the drum, when the nonmetallic substancewill fall of its own gravity, while the magnetic particles Will adhereto the periphery of the drum, being attracted thereto by the magneticforce, and the nonmagnetic metallic particles will be repelledas theyare brought within the influence of the rapidly alternating or changinglines of force of the magnetic ield.

The dotted lines in the drawings illustrate the separated particles intheir passage from the hopper to the receptacles.

It desired, several of the rotating drums withstationary magnets can bearranged one above the other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for the purposeof subjecting the pulverized material to successive treatment in itspassage to insure a more thorough or perfect separation.

While I have thus described one practical method of carrying out myinvention, I do not Wish to limit myself to the special constructionshown, as it is evident that the principle of my'invention can beembodied in other devices, and that a rapid change of magnetic polaritymay be produced With various devices for the purpose of attracting andrepelling magnetic and non-magnetic metal particles and separating thesame from other substances.

Having thus described the nature, construction, and operation of myinvention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

l. An electro-magnetic separator having one or more electro-magnets thatare energized by means of an alternating electric current, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. In an electro-magnetic separator, an electro-magnet energized bymeans of an alternating current of electricity, substantially as and`for the purpose specified.

3. In an electro-1nagnetic separator, an electro-magnet, combined withmeans for rapidly changing its polarity, substantially as and for thepurpose herein specified.

4. In an electro-magnetic separator, the stationary electro-magnet A,located within a `magnetic rotating drum B, substantially as land forthe purpose speciied.v

RICHARD R. MOFFATT. Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN TUsKA, W. H. CooK.

